Mindanao Armed Conflict

KORONADAL CITY - A suspected improvosed bomb went off inside a moving Yellow Bus along Gen San Drive, this city, particular in front of KCC Mall.

It was unclear if there were injuries in the 12:30 explosion.

Initial reports showed that two tricycles trailing the bus were also hit.  

KABACAN, North Cotabato – An unidentified gunman shot dead Wednesday a bus conductor of Rural Tours inside what supposed to be a police well-guarded integrated bus terminal in Barangay Kayaga.

The bus driver was also injured, police investigation showed.

The shooting occurred at about 4 or 5 a.m.

Police Major John Meridel Calinga, Kabacan PNP chief, identified the fatality as Eliezer Inggay, 40, of Kitaotao, Bukidnon and bus driver Crisanto Cuesta, 42, of Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao - The Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division, launched Monday a preemptive military operations to prevent the Dawlah Islamiyah- Turaife Group led by Esmael Abdulmalik @ Abu Turaifie in Maguindanao that left one dead and the recovery of war materials.

The terrorist group has been harassing communities in Sitio Patawali, Brgy Ganta, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

COTABATO CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines today launched air strikes and artillery attacks against Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorist group sighted by civilians and military forces in Maguindanao.

Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, acting 6th Infantry Division commander, confirmed the air strikes in the marshland of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, saying the group of DI Abu Torayfe, believed to be the DI “emir” in Mindanao, was seen massing in the area.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Peace activists on Saturday bade goodbye to the retiring commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division who was instrumental in the surrender of 314 religious extremists in the past 18 months.

Army Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1989, was succeeded by Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, who shall, meantime, lead the 6^th ID as acting commander.

The retirement rite for Uy in this Army camp Saturday was led by the commander of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr.

COTABATO CITY - Eight more gunmen renounced Friday their membership with the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom and pledged allegiance to the government.

Two from the eight BIFF members were experts in fabrication of powerful improvised explosive devices.

They belonged to a group led by Imam Bongos, who is facing more than 30 cases in different courts for deadly bombings in central Mindanao, extortion and multiple murders.

COTABATO CITY --- A grenade blast ripped through the residential compound of a barangay chairman in nearby Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao Sunday night, causing panic among villagers.

Guiaber Dalindingan, chairman of Barangay Crossing Simuay in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, is certain the bombing was politically-motivated, related to the May 9 elections in their municipality.

Local leaders said Guibar supported the candidacy of the now Sultan Kudarat mayor-elect Tucao Mastura and, in so doing, angered many of his constituents who favored a rival candidate.

COTABATO CITY --- Hundreds of villagers in Barangay Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town abandoned their homes Thursday due to gunfights between two partisan Moro groups armed with rifles and grenade launchers. 

The Maguindanao provincial police and the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division have dispatched personnel to Barangay Dapiawan to prevent a spillover of the hostilities to barangays nearby.

LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat - Nine members of the New People’s Army surrendered here Wednesday and pledged allegiance to the government.

The group belonged to the NPA’s self-styled West Daguma Front-Far South Mindanao Region, whose top leaders are mostly wanted by different courts in central Mindanao for heinous crimes.

MARAWI CITY--- A soldier and five Dawlah Islamiya gunmen were killed while four others were wounded in gunfights yesterday in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

In a report Friday, the Army’s 103^rd Infantry Brigade here identified the slain soldier as Corporal Rutenvic Jaralve of the 5^th Infantry Battalion.

Another soldier, name withheld pending notification of family, was also reportedly wounded in yesterday’s clashes between 5^th IB servicemen and Dawlah Islamiya members in Barangay Ragayan in Butig town in Lanao del Sur.